Jeju Olle Course 1-1 (Udo Olle Trail): A Visitor's Guide in Jeju

How this guide was made: Editor-reviewed, AI-assisted. Facts are pulled from live Google Places data; images are licensed or public domain. See our editorial policy.

Why go

Course 1-1 is a spur of Jeju’s famous Olle Trail network, laid out entirely on Udo (literally “Cow Island”), a small volcanic islet a short ferry ride from Jeju’s east coast. Unlike the mainland Jeju routes, this one circles an island within an island — roughly 11.5km of coastal path taking in black basalt shorelines, turquoise shallows, grazing cattle in open pasture, and a lighthouse-topped hill with sweeping views back toward Seongsan Ilchulbong, Jeju’s iconic tuff cone. It’s popular precisely because Udo packs an outsized variety of scenery — beach, cliff, farmland, fishing village — into an island you can circle in a few hours. With a 4.5 rating across local reviews, it’s consistently rated as one of the more rewarding Olle detours, especially for visitors who want a lower-key alternative to Jeju’s more crowded main-island hikes.

Getting there

Udo is reached by ferry from Seongsan Port (Seongsan-ri, Seongsan-eup) on Jeju’s northeastern coast, roughly 40–50 minutes by car or bus from Jeju City. Ferries run frequently during daylight hours — crossings take about 15 minutes — and both passenger ferries and car ferries operate, though most visitors leave vehicles on the mainland and get around Udo on foot, bicycle, or rented electric scooter/cart. There’s also a smaller departure point at Jongdal Port nearby with limited sailings. Buy ferry tickets at the port counter with ID in hand (Udo requires a basic passenger manifest); schedules shift with weather and season, so it’s worth confirming the day’s timetable locally rather than relying on old timetables, since strong winds can suspend service.

What to see and do

Once on Udo, the Olle 1-1 route loops the island’s perimeter, linking several must-see points:

• Seobinbaeksa Beach — a striking white-sand and crushed-shell beach with shallow, pale turquoise water, often compared to a tropical lagoon.
• Hagosudong Beach — known for black sand mixed with white coral fragments, a quieter contrast to Seobinbaeksa.
• Udo Lighthouse Park (Udobong Peak) — a grassy hilltop at the island’s highest point, with panoramic views of Seongsan Ilchulbong and the open sea; a short, steep climb rewards with the best photo point on the route.
• Geommeolle Coast — dramatic black lava-rock shoreline on the island’s eastern side, popular with photographers at sunrise.

Most visitors don’t walk the full 11.5km loop in one push; renting a bicycle or electric scooter near the ferry terminal is common and lets you cover the route in 2–3 hours, stopping at each cove. On foot, plan on 4–5 hours for the full circuit with breaks. Local specialties to try before heading back include Udo peanut ice cream (ttangkong ice cream), sold at small shops near the main beaches, and fresh seafood noodles at village restaurants near the port.

When to go

Late spring (April–June) brings green barley and canola fields inland and comfortable hiking temperatures; autumn (September–November) offers clear skies and fewer crowds than summer. Midsummer is busy with mainland tourists and can be humid, though the beaches are at their best for swimming then. Aim for an early ferry departure — before 10am — to enjoy the coastal light and get ahead of tour groups that arrive midday. Winter is quieter still, with cold winds making the lighthouse hill bracing but the coastline dramatically empty.

Nearby & tips

Pair the trip with Seongsan Ilchulbong itself, visible from Udo and climbable back on the mainland — many visitors do both in a single day, ferry over to Udo in the morning and hike Ilchulbong in the late afternoon. Bring cash in small denominations for bike/scooter rental deposits and beachside food stalls, and check the last return ferry time before setting off, since missing it means an overnight stay on a small island with limited lodging. Sun protection matters more than expected on the exposed hilltop and beach stretches — there’s little shade along most of the loop.